TORONTO — Provided CC Sabathia comes through Tuesday’s 34-pitch simulated game in Tampa OK, the plan is for him to throw a bullpen session Thursday and work a minor league rehab game Saturday.
After Tuesday’s two-inning stint, Sabathia said he was going to hurl in a GCL (Rookie League) game Saturday, but before the Yankees’ 7-6 loss to the Blue Jays Tuesday night at Rogers Centre, manager Joe Girardi said the plan was for Sabathia to throw for the Tampa Yankees (Single-A).
Regardless, the fact Sabathia is ready for a game is a big step forward for the pitcher and a team leaking life from the back end of the rotation.
“It’s getting closer. We still need to build him up, one game to four or five possibly,’’ Girardi said of Sabathia, who hasn’t pitched since May 10 because of an inflamed right knee. “Sometimes need has something to do with [the timetable].’’
If Sabathia needs four rehab outings he could come off the disabled list following the All-Star break (July 14-17), which would be ahead of the anticipated Aug. 1 date.
Girardi was well aware Ichiro Suzuki’s numbers against Blue Jays lefty starter Mark Buehrle were a lot better than the right-handed hitting Alfonso Soriano’s, but the manager went with Soriano.
“We have been doing it this way,’’ Girardi said of using Soriano against lefties and Ichiro versus righties. “I don’t think a day off will hurt Ich. Sori had an RBI single off Buehrle [last week].’’
Still, it was hard to ignore Ichiro’s .421 (24-for-57) average against Buehrle compared to Soriano’s .208 (10-for-48).
“He has done OK,’’ Girardi said of Soriano handling not being a full-time player for the first time in his career. “His at-bats against left-handers have been pretty decent.’’
Soriano went 0-for-3 against Buehrle and finished 1-for-4.
The Yankees released veteran right-handed reliever Heath Bell from a minor league assignment. He had an out in his contract this coming Friday.
Jacoby Ellsbury has stolen 13 straight bases and hasn’t been caught since April 19 at Tampa Bay.
Despite David Huff’s 3 ²/₃ innings of relief Monday night when he threw 61 pitches, Girardi doesn’t believe the lefty is a rotation candidate.
“He is more built up than in the past but I don’t think he is quite ready to be a starter,’’ the manager said.
Yankees minor leaguers Pete O’Brien and Luis Severino have been selected to play in the Futures Game July 13 in Minneapolis. O’Brien, a catcher/infielder started the season at Tampa (Single-A) and was promoted to Trenton (Double-A). Severino, a right-handed pitcher, opened at Charleston (Low-A) and was recently moved to Tampa.